Contest offers restaurants, bars advertising package

North country restaurants and bars will have a chance to win a $6,000 advertising package with several local media outlets if they raise the most money through a pinup challenge to support the Watertown Urban Mission’s “Mission: Possible” capital campaign.

Urban Mission Development Director Andrew G. Mangione said the contest will give area establishments a chance to be involved in raising more than $2 million for physical and program improvements to the agency, 247 Factory St., as they aim to win a prize to further promote their business.

“The generosity of these media organizations across many platforms offers a very diverse advertising package that could be very beneficial to every establishment that participates,” Mr. Mangione said.

The cause-marketing concept, which is where a business and a nonprofit group work together to promote each other, will take place from Friday to June 30. All establishments, including golf courses, are encouraged to participate.

According to a mission released statement, the pinup contest was proposed by John B. Johnson, the Times’s co-publisher and chief executive officer. Mr. Johnson serves on the Mission: Possible corporate committee.

“This contest is intended both to raise the profile of the campaign in the public’s awareness and also raise money from these local businesses,” Mr. Johnson said in the statement. “We want to ensure that these restaurants and bars have the opportunity to participate in this capital campaign, and we view this incentive as an opportunity to maximize the gifts that will be collected in support of the Watertown Urban Mission.”

Contest promotion will also appear on the Times website and in its print publication and throughout all of the other participating media sponsors.

Establishments that wish to participate in the contest can call Mr. Mangione at 782-8440, ext. 74. The contest pinup features the Mission: Possible logo and the public portion of the campaign’s theme of “Be a Star in Your Community.” Employees and patrons can make any donation of $1 or more toward the campaign, and then sign their name to the pinup card, which then will be displayed in the restaurant or bar. The establishment that raises the most money will win the contest.

The campaign has already raised about $1.3 million from leadership donors and community members.